Help Wanted: Teen summer jobs market could be best in a decade

Lifeguard at Oakland County’s Waterford Oaks waterpark is among the jobs available during the summer months. Michigan forecasts the lowest unemployment rate for teens this summer in a dozen years. (Oakland Press file photo)

Wanted: Summer lifeguards.

That’s the story this year out of Oakland County, which is having a tough time filling the 110 summer lifeguard jobs for its water parks as the summer season officially gets underway.

“It’s kind of a statewide and national concern, getting young people enthused to become lifeguards,” said Dan Stencil, the executive in charge of Oakland County Parks and Recreation. “It may affect operations at our water parks. We may have to modify operations.

“This is the most aggressive the county has been in contacting schools and colleges, going to employment firms, taking out ads, posting on social media,” Stencil said. “We’re trying to get the word out there.”

Oakland County government may be the county’s largest employer of summer help. It annually hires between 500 and 600 seasonal workers. So far, eight lifeguards are still needed at Red Oaks. The county is also seeking cooks and seasonal supervisors.

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Teens ages 16-19 have more options for work this summer than in past years as the overall economy has improved.

Statewide, the unemployment rate for that age group is forecast to be 18 percent – the lowest in a dozen years and far above the statewide total unemployment rate of 4.7 percent, but also a little misleading.

Some students have competing interests in the summers – from sports to picking up extra credits at community colleges to other activities. For lifeguards, particularly, rainy days also mean no work. There is also the recovering economy, which has boosted job growth and cut into the number of applications the county usually receives for summer help.

“There were years where we would have several thousand applicants,” Stencil said. “Last year, we slightly north of 1000.”

State Forecast

Projected unemployment for teens age 16-19 is 18 percent, the lowest since the 2005 rate of 17.9 percent, and far off the peak of 35 percent in 2010 in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

The Great Recession officially began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, but the recovery in the jobs market took awhile to pick up steam.

Teen unemployment is generally high compared to the overall unemployment rate because many are entering the workforce for the first time, and there’s also competition from adults for summer jobs.

But the summer jobless rate for teens has drifted lower since it peaked at 35 percent in 2010, the height of the Great Recession, as the state’s economy has improved.

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget forecasts employment and unemployment for teens in broad terms. Of a statewide summer labor pool of 255,700 aged 16-19, 209,700 are expected to find jobs this summer and 46,000 will not.

Specific jobs the state expects summer workers will fill are camp counselor, car washer, cashier, deliveries, fast food work, waiters or waitresses, golf course workers, office clerks, receptionists, sales clerks, stock clerks, and ushers or attendants. But the state list is by no means all inclusive.

The improvement in the teen unemployment rate mirrors the improvement to the state’s overall official unemployment rate.

The overall unemployment rate in Michigan was 4.7 percent in April, and the state also added jobs – 43,000 from the previous April.

All but two of Michigan’s 83 counties had unemployment rates below 10 percent, the lowest 2.1 percent in Ottawa and 2.2 percent in Washtenaw counties. The highest rates were in northern counties of Mackinac, 12.5 percent, and Cheboygan, 10.7 percent, which are reliant on summer tourism that hasn’t fully kicked in yet.

More locally, the overall unemployment rate in April was 3 percent in Oakland County, 3.9 percent in Macomb County, and 4.8 percent in Wayne County.

“We’re not only looking at the favorable job market looking at summer or entry-level job, it starts with how robust of a market we have,” said John Paul Rea, director of the Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development.

“Whether it be looking at something from restaurants to golf course or offices, those positions are not only available in the market but lead to career exploration,” Rea said.

Rea said local manufacturing companies are re-energizing the talent pool by providing internships and job-shadowing that gives teenage workers a glimpse and insight into potential careers to consider.

“That’s an emerging platform for kids that are looking for summer job opportunities,” he said.

Lucky Kid

Paul Penzien was a lucky kid.

For as long as he can remember – as far back as elementary school – he never had to worry about finding a summer job.

Even his sister had a job thanks to his parents, Jerry and Shelly Penzien, who have owned Cracklewood Golf Club since its opening in 1989. To this day it remains one of Macomb Township’s busiest public golf courses.

“When I was younger it was essentially just my dad giving me something to do while I was there,” said Penzien, 27, of Washington Township. But something to do at the age of 6 grew into little jobs at 9 or 10 and summer employment as a teenager.

“Now I do the hiring,” Penzien said, while taking a break from the morning rush of leagues, which tee off in the spring and play until the fall and into winter if the weather is nice.

Many students are hired before school lets out for the summer to work at the seasonal business. However, that does not mean Penzien is not interested in a hardworking teen who wants to work on a golf course.

“I always tell them to come in and fill out an application because you never know – someone might leave or we might need extra help.”

It’s a minimum wage job. Teens starting as young as 14 are doing everything from washing dishes in the kitchen, to running golf carts outside, raking sand traps and driving the ball picker on the course driving range. However, the job has perks, like free golfing and food discounts.

“If they have any interest in golf, this is the spot to be,” Penzien said, before greeting a man standing in line in the pro shop.

Teenagers who want to work at one of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks still have a shot. There are Metroparks across southeast Michigan in Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Livingston counties.

“We have about 400 to 500 positions left to be filled in the next couple of weeks,” said George Phifer, director and CEO responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority’s 13 Metroparks.

The positions will go pretty quickly so now is the time to apply, said Phifer. Many of the positions were filled during spring job fairs, which is a new approach for the Metroparks.

“We were very pleased with the response,” Phifer said. “It allowed our park employees to meet with applicants in person. We found a lot of wonderful people, who can provide excellent service to our park visitors.”

The positions that are still open, ranging from grounds maintenance and food services to pool attendants, can be found online. Stony Creek Metropark, also takes applications at the park in person.

“The outdoors, the sunshine, it’s really an ideal place for someone to work,” said Phifer, who admits his best summer job when he was a teen was working for his city’s park and recreation department.

Job Hunting Tips

• State government offers the following tips for teens looking for work this summer:

• Start looking early,

• Keep looking,

• Visit local businesses,

• Let friends/neighbors know you are looking for work,

• Talk with school guidance counselors,

• Utilize social media, websites with job ads, and local newspaper want ads,

• Think about self-employment: lawn service, pet sitting, etc.,

• Visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect (www.mitalent.org),

• Teens seeking work at Oakland County can apply online at www.oakgov/hr/jobs.

Common-sense tips include dress appropriately, be on time for the interview, be well groomed, bring the information necessary to complete an application, have a few references, maintain a positive attitude and show you want the job.